The Washington critic., 1887-10-03
THE AMERICAN TELEPHONE CO,
Its Venezuelan Concessions Shown 10
be Full and Exclusive.
The OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
Able ard Energetic Men OF the Head
of the Business.
CONVINCING LEGAL OPINIONS.

CONVINCING LEGAL OPINIONS.
The announcement of the American
Telephone Company that 1t is now
ready to resume Its business that was
discontinued some time since because
OF the attack made upon 1t by parties
desirous of forcing It to break up be.
cause II was, among other things, to
do q telephone business, has awakened
new interest In this company, and THE
Critic, which is ever ready to COM
mend any home enterprise when 1t Is
fully satisfied that II Is justified In so
doing, has sought out the facts, and
from the evidence before 1t Is con.
vinced that the company Is entitled to
the fullest confidence. That It has
successfully passed through such
severe criticism without one shadow
upon any part of It's work demonstrates
the honor of its purpose and manage.
ment and the ability of lis officers.
The representative of THE CRrrIc
=
i street northwest, and was assured
that II was true that the company was
now ready and intended to resume
its business at once, or rather had re
sumed its business. That an eXamina
tion of lis charter aud franchises so far
obtained was invited, and would be
shown to any person desirous of seeing
them, and especially the representa-.
tives of the press.
The officers of the company for the
present fiscal year are
President-S. Q. Mingle of Williams
port, Pa.
Vice Presldent-C, b. sprague of
Glens Falls, N. Y.
Secretary-Charles a. Maxwell of
Washington, ID. @.
Treasnrer-S. D. Newcomb of Wash.
ington, d. G.
Directors arc
S. @ Mingle, Williamsport, Pa.
j. S. Tomb, Jersey Shore, Pa
j. Il. Highly, Philadelphia, Pa.
G. B. Sprague, Glens Falls, N. Y.
L. G.. Mcdonald, Glens Falls, N. Y.
G. A. Maxwell, Washington, d. G.
j. III. McGowan, Washington, ID. @.
j. r. Imbrie, Washington, ID. g.
w. III. Mcdonald, Washington, d. G.
Alfred Lockhart, Washington, ID. G.
S. d. Newcomb, Washington, D. G.
These are men of excellent standing,
and are able, energetic, determined
business men who know the value of
their privileges and franchises and un
derstand how to conduct them. The
treasurer is required to give bond for
500, 900 us guaranty of his faithful.
ness.
1t was stated that the company had
determined to sell a limited amount of
stock at 90 per cent. of par value for
construction purposes, and would push
the work of building the exchanges
with all the dispatch possible consistent
with economic management. 1t is eX-
pected to put up three thousand tele.
phones the first year. The company's
Caracas manager reports that fifteen
hundred subscribers are already Sc.
cured, and are anxiously waiting for
the instruments to be set up. The earn.
ipgs of all telephones are to be paid into
the dividend fund, after deductlng the
cost of maintenance, and paid out only
for dividend purposes. All construc
tion account is TO be conducted from
the proceeds of the stock. This pur.
pose is to secure to the stockholders
early dividends, and gives them the
direct benefit Of the earnings upon the
money they paid in.
The concession and title papers of the
company were exhibited, and as they
have been examined and pronounced
upon by the most eminent of lawyers,
DR.. S. Ferrero Ateinza of Caracas and
the Hon. Jefferson Chandler Of Wash.
ington, THE CRITIC will only say that
they appear to the business mind as
complete In all respects, and cannot
fail to prove of great value If properly
handled. The legal opinions above re-
ferred to are given In full below aud
speak for themselves.
The Venezuelan Government is the
first to give the American Telephone
Company concession. Others have
promised to do so, and papers are ex.
p,eeted as soon as the company will be
able to set the work in motion. Con.
Cessions for other branches of Its bust.
ness have been assured and will be set
. be organized. 1t Is an agreeable task
full justification Of the American Tele
PhohC Soilpuuy uuu its OllCcIs, puS
and present, and the determination with
which they have met the great diff.
culties that presented themselves
promises more than mere success tC
their work.
OPINION OF DR.. s. FERRERo ATHENA.
1t is my opinion that, according to th,
concession made by the Government OF
Venezuela to Acquilino Orta on the 20tt
day OF April, 1887, for the establishment o
telephones In the Republic, which conces
sion was transferred to Mr.. CaudelariC
Padron on the I'd ultimo, and transferred
by the latter this day to the Americ Al
Telephone Company, the said company ha,
a perfect right to establish the telephon,
business in all the cities OF the Venezuelan
Union; That In case OF the existence o.
any claim on the part OF the lnter-Conti
mental Telephone Company, such claiu
can In nowise affect the aforesaid American
Telephone Company, since that compau,
Is acting In virtue Of q contract CONCLUDED
with the National Government aud VESTED
with all the constitutional fOrmallties; and
finally, that, from the letter Of said con
tract, in the eighth article, II Is appareu
that that company Is the only one that la
q right to establish the telephone buslnes
In Venezuela.
s. FERRERo ATHENA,
Counsellorat-Llw.
Caracas, August o, 1857.
oPIsIoN OF THE HON. JEFFERSON
CHANDLER.
To The american IclcDhOUC COmDanV,